Saturday, February 22, 1980 НЕ MILITANT Pare Passaic Strike Anniversary The «Right to Think»
Chicago to New York, but the Passaic strike was overlooked Of course the Party was not entirely without help. It had the basic Lenin teaching on the united front which was not yet prohibited and this was sufflSome Lessons in Militant Labor Leadership for the Future cient. Lately the has remedied the neglect of Passaic and has been giving By James Cannon the Party much instruction on the trade Experience is tho capital of the bor The monstrous hypocrisy and duplicity this fight was the slogan of unity. This union struggle. Unfortunately, it has all been bad.
of the Lovestone Right wingers seems to movement no less than of other human en slogan has more power to move the masses have no bounds. It latest manifestation Was the affiliation of the Passaic Union terprises. The generalization by which we than any other and in Passaic the Commuto the United Textile Workers a mistake 18 expressed in an article by Will Herberg steer toward Communism are not drawn nists kept it always in their hands; and entitled Hare Communists the Right to in principle? This opinion is the contribuout of thin air but are the concentrated with it kept the leadership, despite all the Think. Revolutionary Age, Feb. 1, 1930. tion of Losovsky after the event and all experience of the international working machinations of the reactionaries. The Comthe Party leaders, who were hot foot for Herberg is very much pained because tho class. Marxism established its place as the munists appeared before the strikers, as they the action at the time, are wearing it like present intolerable regime in the Communonly valid theory of the proletariat because were in fact, the champion of a united a second hand halo. It is a not unimporist International. meets every sign of init alone stood this test. Experience is the struggle, and thereby held their allegiance.
Itiative or ideological self reliance with imlaboratory of the science of revolution, tant question, and one which, in the mutaSide by side with this isolation of sabottions of the struggle, may rise again. Theremediate threats of suppression or Those who discovered and invent tactics aging representatives of the of there fore an answer is in order; and, for our expulsion. He is also very much worried without the aid of this laboratory and in was a skillful and successful utilization of part, in spite of Losovsky, or Zack, or even because the bourgeois intellectual world defiance of it substitute guesswork for non party elements in the leading bodies, Browder, we say, no, it was not a mistake takes advantage of this unfortunate situascience and thereby confuse and weaken oth from ranks the strikers and in principle. It was not even a mistake in tion to attack Communism.
the workers movement.
from the cutside. Notable among the latter tactics although, in the desiro to keep alive It really too bad. But, my dear HerThis is the present day practice. It was Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. This practice the struggle which was at the point of exberg, who helped to erect this intolerable accounts for the orgy of experimentation contributed not a little to the broadering haustion unnecessary concessions were regime. Who laid the foundation for it in in all fields of activity which is running of the base of the leadership and the made. To say that the affiliation amounted the American party? How long ago is it through the Party like a virulent influenza. strengthening of its support from below. to a betrayal of the workers is childish that you were participating in this IntolThe results of this guessing game are very It is a prerequisite for success in mass nonsense that ignores all the facts. The erable regime and expelling comrades for harmful for our experience, though limited organizations at the present stage of destrike was virtually at an end at the time. Ideological self reliance. is fresh and rich and much can be learnod velopment in America. The problem pre it had been prolonged for eight or ten Perhaps it would not be inopportuno to, from it to the advantage of the workers sents itself in every struggle that breaks months and the workers were simply worn quote a few of your directives which you movement. Moreover there is no better nor out of the narrow circle of immediate Party out. If the afiliation to the had wrote in an Outline for Speakers on Trot.
easier way to teach the workers than by influence. The present leadership do not any effect at all it was to keep the remnants skyism in March 1929. Listen to this: examples near at hand. American experiunderstand this. They cannot even find of the strike together during the negotia Trotskylem is incompatible with memberence has a tenfolt value for the education room for dissenting factions of the Commutions until some of the mills made a sort ship in Communist Party. How differof the American workers, including the nist movement in the unions they control. of gettlement with the organization ently you write today! Moreover, though Communists. What we have we should They knew no way to deal with the in The continuous proposals of the strike agreement with certain broad fundamentals membership in a Communist Party implies treasure and study, dependent opinions of auch an honest and committee to afiliate with the influential militant as John Watt oxcept to were the weapon which 1solated Hilfers it does not follow that comrade must The anniversary of the great Passaic frame him up and throw him out. They (the of agent of disruption. enagree with every implication or proposition strike which has just passed by the Party do not kow how to disarm and isolate reacabled the strike appeal to wedge its way of the Marxlan world view or out ha unnoticed is a case in point. That was the tionary disrupters with the slogan of unity. into the conservative unions and even comgoes! New times, new principles!
first large scale experience of the Party in These are some of the reasons why they pelled Green to withdraw his denunciation. Why we break up Trotskyist meetings the direct organization of the workers for stage putches instead of real mass struggles Without a doubt it had a strong influence they are demonstrations against the Soviet economic struggle; it was the biggest job like the Passaic strike.
in holding the strikers ranks solid month Union of the same type as Monarchist, sowas carried through in the most workmanThe Passaic strike mobilized non party Would not after month and in securing the funds to olalist demonstrations. Who knows? PerIlke and responsible manner.
mass support on a national scale. This was sustain them.
the manifold experience of this strike be an haps here we have discovered the seed of before the three million organized workers The withdrawal of Weisbord, tho strike the theory of social fascism!
excellent source of study for tho industrial of America were given up as social fas organizer, as a condition of affiliation, was No Discussion, Say Lorestone Foster work of the Party today especially in recists. The conservative trade unions were a blg concession, and a dangerous precedent The struggle against Trotskyism must gard to the organization of the unorganized, deeply penetrated with the issue of Passaic. to establish; but in the circumstances it be a struggle against all the immediate Our leaders evidently do not think so. The Left wing gained access to more unions had little effect. The Passaic union retained issues that the Trotskyltes raise: no discusThe Passaic strike occured before the on this occasion than on any other in its its local autonomy, the local londership resion. freedom of discussion, of opinion. Third Period. Therefore it doesn count. history with the exception of the Sacco mained and the influence of the Party on democracy etc. We must completely exTherefore, forget it; or, if it is mentioned Vanzetti campaign. Conferences on a scale the subsequent decisions was the same as pose all these artifices. Was it for the at all, refer to it, as Browder did in an for which the present day caricatures offer before. The greatest error was the opporpurpose, Herberg, that you wrote your ararticle some time ago, as a shameful page no standard of measurement were organized tunistic manner in which the afiliation was ticle on whether Communists have a right In our history. Such a remark serves only throughout the country. In many cases even carried out. This was particularly noticeto think? There must be no fraternization to establish the measure of Browder. It the most conservative officials were forced able in the publicity of the strike committee with the Trotskyltes who must be treated ai does not in any way effect the validity of into line by the sweeping appeal of the which began to be tainted with defeatist counter revolutionaries. How heavy the the methods employed in the Passaic strike. issue. Funds to the extent of hundreds of apologies to the labor fakers. We had past weighs down on us!
They stand out with conspicuous import thousands of dollars for the support of the occasion to make several motions in the Hypocrisy, always an integral element and merit against the dubious tinkering strike, which came through these confer Polítical Committee to correct this line but of Lovestoneism, finds its highest expreswhich is being passed off by the Browders ences, were an indication of their mass these motions were all defeated with the sion in you, my dear Herberg. How much as trade union tactics.
support. All this work was most effectively help of those who now, characteristically consideration for the right of Communists The management of the Passaic, strike stimulated by a vast propaganda conceived onough, bawl loudest about betrayal of to think did you have when you executed was a brilliant illustration of the effective in terms of a mass movement. weekly the strike. But the errors were incidental.
that infamous dual maneuver the ness of united front tactics which were, are bulletin scattered broadcast, an illustrated It will be a disaster for the Loft wing if it acceptance of the letter and the and will be the heart and Gero of the Com pamphlet even motion pictures were cm condemns the afiliation of a Loft wing Polcom statement against it. Innocent mudist struggle for the masses. The united ployed to dramatize the struggle before the union to the of 23 a mistake in Herberg he was completely ignorant of the front, the guiding line in all phases of the workers.
principle. Lenin teaching and interintrigues of Zam, chameleon Kaplan and direction of the Passaic strike was vindi All this work and its results did much national experience refute such a contenPepper. How much regard for the right cated in all of them on a scale which looms to popularize the Communists as serious tion.
of Communists to think did you have when colossal in contrast to the sad results which workers in the labor movement. The Passayou concocted all the hocus pocus about the have folowed its rejection, ic strike, which was made known to every The Foster leaders, appeal to the ComY. being a section of the Comintern few of the outstanding features can body was a crushing answer in itself to the munist workers to bury themselves in mass like any other section, and therefore there accusation that the reds are impractical work and let controversy alone. Not a few be mentioned: was the right of one section (the Amercomrades, eager for activity in the class ican Party) to appeal against another secThe strike was a genuine morement of theorists, who are incapable of constructive organisation work. Communist ideas found struggle, have been caught on tho hook of tion (the the workers. The great majority of the a readier acceptance from workers who this false formula and their effectiveness What contempt for the ability of Comworkers employed in the mills were drawn saw the Communists competently promotas militants is thereby nezated. Mass work into the struggle and held solidly togethor munists to think is contained in this abomis not simply an exercise to be gone through, inable trickery to deceive the membership for morths. It was a strike which paralyzed ing and organizing such a big movement.
It will be worth while for the Commulike acro for its own sake. Bolshevik the mills and never had the character of a of the League. Yes, my dear Herberg, your nist and Left wing workers to compare this mass work is an art. Communists must putch or flare up. Ther. were in it duplicity was really ingenious in accorstudy its underlying principles and make dance with the needs of the situation. Toand behind it. The Cominunists held the mobilization with the almost total lack of it in recent struggles led by the Party and to these principles there own.
unquastioned leadership although there was day you pursue this same line of duplicity.
Only the situation has changod; therefore ask the reason for the difference.
There can be no better preparation for The but a handful of Communists in the mills effective mass work than the evaluation and your line of duplicity has changed. The when the strike began. By their services answer lies primarily in the difference in Communists will detect the false notes in and skill the cominunists led the workers the methods and conceptions The results study of Party experiences in the light of Lepin basic teachings. The high light of your new crooning songs, of the new tactics cannot bear comparison with a moral authority that needed no our experience in the industrial struggle We have always advocated a free and mechanical manipulation; moral authority with the results of Passale. But are not was the Pasaic strike. The Party will again open discussion of the points of view of the results the best criterion by which to meawhich, in the final analysis, is the rock on enormously by a study of it and by a popthree tendencies in the Communist Interwhich real leadership is based. Under such sure tactics?
uiarization of its lessons. The most imnational, the Right (Bucharin LovestonecouGidons every step. every turn in tactics The Passaic strike movement was con portant of these is the necessity of a return Brandier. the Center (Stalin Foster, et al. required by changes in the situation, could ducted without any advice from the Execu.
to the tactics of the united front as Lenin and the Left (Trotsky, etc. We proposed be and were executed with the knowledge tive Committee of the Communist Internataught thein.
tional. This is mentioned not as a virtue, serious investigation of that this discussion be conducted within and consent of the masses of the strikers.
the question will convince the American the Party in accordance with the procedure Compare this demonstration of real leaderbut as a state of affairs which the crusade Communist workers of this.
against Trotskyism had brought about in of Inner party democracy and in the spirit Then their ship with some of the recent exploits and mass work, their sacrifices and their courand practice of Lenin, You and Foster. forced, marches of the Party under the the leading organ of the World Party. This age will bogin to bear fruit for Communism.
disciples of Bucharin and Stalin, said no. new line. such as, for example, the diswas the biggest task our inexperienced Parand expelled us. Now the discussion of the graceful exhibition in the Illinois coal field, ty had ever undertaken in the domain of views of the three political groups is never Cannot something be learned from this commass work, and for this there was no inter 200, 000, 000 Profits aud Unemployment theless being conducted. but outside the parision?
national advice. The Comintern building YOUNGSTOWN, Since last October bounds of the Party. This is not the best The reactionaries were isolated and was swarming with functionaries who had the mills in Youngstown have run two to way. But the class struggle will not wait non party forces effectively utilized in the nothing else in the world to do but give three days a week and some are now closed or stop at bureaucratic boundary lines, no Passaic strike. The reactionaries were busy advice and instructions, but in this case down, Now we are told that the bosses of matter who draws them. The discussion with efforts to disrupt the Passaic strike they had none. The Party had to go on the Steel Corporation are not satis is here! Worker Communists are exercisno less than in others. But here the Com its own resources. The about Aed with the two hundred million dollars ing the right to think. With confidence, munists by their tactie, cut the ground that time was burning up the cables with. 200, 000, 000) from the workers for 1929, thereforo, the Communist League, the Lenfrom under their feet and robbed them of all ambiguous decisions on such questions as and expect to make more by throwing inist Bolsheviks, greet and prepare the in Muence. The most important weapon in the removal of Party headquarters from workers into the streets.
future.
GEORGE RAY